Chest Injuries After a Car Accident
Have you recently been in a car accident in Edmond, OK and suffered a chest injury?
Contact the Edmond personal injury lawyers at McGuire Law. You may be entitled to compensation from those who caused the accident and are responsible for your pain.
Contact our Edmond law firm today at (405) 513-5658 to arrange a free consultation to discuss your accident and go over your legal options.
How McGuire Law Can Help If You’ve Suffered Chest Injuries After a Car Accident?
At McGuire Law, our Edmond personal injury lawyers understand the difficulties our clients go through as a result of car accident injuries.
If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, they should be held accountable for your suffering.
We work hard to ensure you are compensated fairly.
Here are a few steps our car accident lawyers take when working on a case for clients suffering from chest injuries:
- Evaluate your case by investigating the accident and reviewing all documents and evidence.
- Work with experts in fields relevant to your auto accident, including medical, automotive, and financial experts.
- Negotiating with the insurance company regarding a settlement offer
- Take your case to court if the insurance company’s offer is inadequate
We value the attorney-client relationship, so communication is very important to us. We don’t leave our clients in the dark and we don’t make them seek us out for information. We do everything we can to keep you informed on case developments and major decisions.
Chest Injuries After a Car Accident: Overview
Nearly 80% of over three million Americans injured in car crashes sustain injuries to the chest or head. These types of injuries are especially devastating because they can result in long-term problems that are irreparable and negatively affect quality of life. The chest protects critical organs, so trauma to this area can result in life-threatening injuries.
These injuries to the chest are serious and sometimes difficult to recognize immediately. Even if surface injuries seem to have healed, there may be internal damage that isn’t as obvious.
Ranging from mild to severe, chest injuries from a car accident can include broken ribs, organ damage, and internal bleeding. The fatality rate for victims of chest injury trauma can be as high as 60%.
How Do Chest Injuries Happen in a Car Accident?
Chest injuries are most often caused by the chest area coming into contact with the steering wheel, airbags, or seat belts.
While seat belts and airbags are intended to protect you, depending on the nature of the crash, they can also cause some harm. Airbags deploy with enough force to cause severe injury during an accident, and in holding drivers back, seat belts can tighten too much.
Types of Chest Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Common chest injuries that occur after a car accident include:
- Seat belt welts and bruising
- Sternum breaks
- Strained muscles
- Heart attack
- Broken ribs
- Bruised ribs
- Internal organ damage
The tricky thing about chest injuries is that you may not realize you have an injury. If you’re experiencing pain after a car accident, it’s important to seek medical care immediately to ensure there’s no internal damage.
What Are the Signs That You Have Suffered a Chest Injury After a Car Accident?
Because chest injuries aren’t always obvious, it’s helpful to be aware of possible symptoms.
In some cases, symptoms may appear gradually.
Signs of a chest injury include:
- Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)
- Experiencing chest pains
- Unable to cough without pain
- Shock
- Dull aches
Be mindful especially of pain that spreads across the upper abdominal/lower chest region near your spleen and liver.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in Edmond?
In the state of Oklahoma, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Known as the statute of limitations, this restriction on time is because evidence and witnesses are more likely to be available than if a longer period had passed.
The law also states that you cannot recover if you were more than 50% to blame for the accident. It’s possible that multiple parties can be held responsible for your injuries.
Among those who could be potentially responsible include:
- At-fault driver
- Manufacturer of vehicle and/or its components
- City departments in charge of roadway services
A competent personal injury lawyer can help you prove your percentage of responsibility.
Contact our Edmond car accident attorneys at McGuire Law as soon as possible following your accident. We can immediately get started on your case so you can get compensation for losses, including medical costs, lost income, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.
Call McGuire Law To Speak With Our Edmond Car Wreck Lawyers Today
At McGuire Law, our goal is to win for you. In fact, we don’t get paid unless you win. Contact our personal injury lawyers in Edmond, Oklahoma to arrange a consultation at no charge.
You have enough to deal with right now. Leave the legal worries to us. Call today.
